Portable information handling system flexible display with alternating slide support frame

ABSTRACT

A portable information handling system integrates a sliding support with interlaced fingers below a flexible display to adjust support the display based upon rotational orientation of housing portions of the information handling system. In a closed position, the sliding support compresses by fully engaging the fingers so that room is provided over a hinge assembly that rotationally couples the housing to provide folding of the flexible display without wrinkling or compression.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/246,690, filed Jan. 14, 2019, entitled “Portable Information HandlingSystem Flexible Display with Alternating Slide Support Frame” byinventors Gerald Rene Pelissier, Kevin M. Turchin, John Trevor Morrison,and Yung-Fa Cheng, and is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of portableinformation handling system displays, and more particularly to aportable information handling system flexible display with analternating slide support frame.

Description of the Related Art

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option available to users is information handling systems. Aninformation handling system generally processes, compiles, stores,and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or otherpurposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of theinformation. Because technology and information handling needs andrequirements vary between different users or applications, informationhandling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in informationhandling systems allow for information handling systems to be general orconfigured for a specific user or specific use such as financialtransaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage,or global communications. In addition, information handling systems mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

Portable information handling systems are built in portable housing tosupport mobile operations free from external cables. For example,portable information handling systems typically integrate processingcomponents, a battery and a touchscreen display that presentsinformation as visual images and accepts touches as inputs. Tabletportable information handling systems generally dispose processingcomponents and the battery in a planar housing covered by thetouchscreen display. Convertible information handling systems typicallyhave separate planar housing portions rotationally coupled by a hinge torotate between a closed position and various open positions that acceptinputs, such as a clamshell and tablet position. Conventionalconvertible information handling systems integrate the touchscreendisplay in one planar housing portion and a keyboard in the other planarhousing portion so that an end user can type inputs into the informationhandling system. Some convertible information handling systems rotatehousing portions 360 degrees relative to each other to a tablet positionthat exposes the touchscreen display on one side and hides the keyboardunderneath on the other side.

One type of touchscreen display used in portable information handlingsystems is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, whichilluminates colors at pixels by electrical stimulation of an organicmaterial. OLED displays provide a thinner solution than conventionalliquid crystal displays (LCDs), which rely upon a backlight toilluminate an image. OLED displays are typically built by disposing aflexible OLED film over a substrate. In a conventional tablet orconvertible system, OLED display films are typically disposed over aglass or other stiff substrate to provide a firm surface against whichan end user may make touch inputs. Some convertible information handlingsystems include an OLED display over both rotationally coupled housingportions, in effect replacing the keyboard with a touchscreen display.In such systems, when the housing portions rotate to a clamshellconfiguration, a keyboard presented at the display accepts typed inputs.When the system rotates 180 degrees to a flat configuration, bothdisplay surfaces are available for presenting visual images as tablet.An advantage of this configuration is that a larger tablet display areais available for viewing information, while a closed configurationimproves portability. A disadvantage of this configuration is that aseam exists between the two display areas where the hinge rotationallycouples the housing portions to each other.

Since OLED films are flexible, mounting an OLED film on a flexiblesubstrate, such as a plastic substrate, allows folding of a display witha hinge about an intersection of housing portions. With a POLED flexibledisplay, the display is disposed over both rotationally coupled housingportions to fold with hinge rotation between closed and open positions.The closed position protects the display and offers reduced size forimproved portability. The open position offers a contiguous display areaacross both housing portions for improved visual image presentation. Adifficulty with incorporation of a flexible OLED display in a flexiblehousing is that the rotation about the hinge has a different degree ofmotion for the display on the inner circumference of the motion and thehousing that supports the display, which resides in a different plane oftravel. The “gap” in relative motion has to be accommodated or theflexible display will have waviness introduced with associated poorelectrical and optical damage, including likely physical damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a need has arisen for a system and method which supports aflexible display over rotationally coupled housing portions.

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method areprovided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problemsassociated with previous methods and systems for folding a displaysupported across rotationally coupled housing portions. A slidingsupport having opposing portions with interlaced fingers slides inalternating directions to support a flexible display in a flat positionand provide room for folding the flexible display in a closed position.

More specifically, a portable information handling system processesinformation with processing components disposed in rotationally coupledhousing portions and presents the information as visual images atflexible display disposed as a contiguous structure over the housingportions. A sliding support disposed within each housing portion adjuststo provide support underneath the flexible display in a flat positionand slides away from an opening defined in the housing portions thatprovides room to the flexible display to fold without compression orwrinkling. The sliding support has opposing planar portions withinterlaced fingers that move in alternating directions to interlock andseparate the fingers under the flexible display. When extended apartfrom each other, one planar portion extends outward from the housing andthe other planar portion extends inward over top of a hinge assemblythat rotationally couples the housing portions to each other. Extensionof the inner and outer portions away from each other supports theflexible display across the housing portions in the flat position. Whencompressed to interlock the fingers, the inner portion slides away fromthe hinge to leave an opening in which the flexible display fits duringtransition to a closed position.

The present invention provides a number of important technicaladvantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that aportable information handling system having a flexible display disposedover rotationally coupled housing portions adjusts a support surfacebased upon the rotational orientation of the housing portions.Interlaced fingers cooperate under the flexible display to supportagainst finger or stylus touches to the flexible display. Upon rotationto a closed position, the interlace fingers fully engage to compress thesize of the sliding support, thus making room for folding of theflexible display over the hinge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerousobjects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in theart by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the samereference number throughout the several figures designates a like orsimilar element.

FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of a portable information handlingsystem having a flexible display with folding managed by a slidingsupport;

FIG. 2 depicts an upper side perspective view of the informationhandling system in a closed position;

FIGS. 3A-3B depict an upper side perspective view of the informationhandling system in a clamshell position;

FIG. 4 depicts a side perspective view of the information handlingsystem housing portions rotated to a flat position;

FIG. 5 depicts a side perspective view of the housing portions with thesliding support extended to provide support under the flexible display;

FIG. 6 depicts a side perspective view of the flexible supportsretracted to illustrate an open space defined over the hinge assembly;

FIG. 7 depicts a side perspective view of one housing portion andsliding support with the hinge assembly in a closed position;

FIG. 8 depicts a side cutaway view of the information handling systemrotated to a closed position with space defined to fold the flexibledisplay; and

FIG. 9 depicts a side cutaway view of the information handling systemrotated to a flat position with the flexible display supported by thesliding support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A portable information handling system includes a sliding support tomanage folding of a flexible display. For purposes of this disclosure,an information handling system may include any instrumentality oraggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process,transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display,manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form ofinformation, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, orother purposes. For example, an information handling system may be apersonal computer, a network storage device, or any other suitabledevice and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, andprice. The information handling system may include random access memory(RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processingunit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or othertypes of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the informationhandling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more networkports for communicating with external devices as well as various inputand output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a videodisplay. The information handling system may also include one or morebuses operable to transmit communications between the various hardwarecomponents.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exploded view depicts a portable informationhandling system 10 having a flexible display 32 with folding managed bya sliding support 42. In the example embodiment, portable informationhandling system 10 has processing components integrated into a firsthousing portion 12 and second housing portion 14. For instance, firsthousing portion 12 holds a battery 16 that powers the processingcomponents and solid state drive (SSD) 18 that provides persistentstorage of information, an operating system and applications. Secondhousing portion 14 holds a motherboard 20 that interfaces processingcomponents that cooperate to process information. For instance, acentral processing unit (CPU) 22 executes instructions to processinformation in cooperation with random access memory (RAM) 24 thatstores the instructions and information. A chipset 26 includes a varietyof components and embedded code that aid operation of CPU 22, such asfor memory accesses and clock speed. An embedded controller 28 managespower for the processing components as well as interfaces withinput/output (I/O) devices, such as touches made at a touchscreenintegrated in flexible display 32. A graphics processor unit (GPU) 30interfaces with CPU 22 to process information for presentation as visualimages, such as pixel values that define a visual image at flexibledisplay 32. In various embodiments, various configurations andplacements of processing components may be used in housing portions 12and 14 to achieve a desired performance level.

Flexible display 32 interfaces with GPU 30 to present visual images asdefined by GPU 30. Flexible display 32 has a flexible display film thatfolds across at least a central portion. For example, flexible display32 is a plastic-substrate organic light emitting diode display (POLED),although other flexible display configurations may be used. Forinstance, flexible display 32 may have a solid substrate in portionsthat do not fold, such as glass substrate, with a foldable plasticsubstrate at a portion in the center where folding is intended as setforth below. Flexible display 32 is disposed over both housing portions12 and 14, which rotationally couple to each other by a hinge assembly34. Housing portions 12 and 14 rotate relative to each other between aclosed position and flat position to provide mobility yet have a wideviewing area when in use, as is shown in greater detail in the figuresbelow.

Hinge assembly 34 is a dual axle assembly having first and second dualaxle hinges 36 at opposing sides of a cross support 38. An extensionmember 40 couples to each housing portion 12 and 14 and also extends andretracts based upon the rotational orientation of each hinge 36. Ashinge assembly 34 rotates to a closed position, extension member 40extends outward from hinge assembly 34 to engage with sliding support42, aiding configuration of sliding support 42 to support flexibledisplay 32 in a folded configuration. Cross supports 38 are aligned todefine a space between each other in the closed position that providesroom for flexible display 32 in the folded configuration. The relativespacing of an example embodiment of hinge assembly 34 is presented inthe figures as described below.

In the example embodiment, a sliding support 42 is disposed in eachhousing portion 12 and 14 to provide support under flexible display 32in the flat position while providing room for folding flexible display32 in the closed position. Each sliding support 42 has first and secondplanar portions 44 and 46 with interlaced fingers 52 aligned so thatplanar portions 44 and 46 slidingly engage with each other. Planarportions 44 and 46 rest under flexible display 32 to provide support inthe flat and closed positions. In the flat position, interlaced fingersslide apart to extend inner planar portion 46 over hinge assembly 34 andto extend outer planar portion 44 outwards and away from hinge assembly34. The openings formed in the flat position by space between interlacedfingers 52 are defined to have sufficient support of flexible display 32so that end user touches and stylus touches will not fold the displayinwards. In the closed position, interlaced fingers press towards eachother with inner portion 46 moving away from hinge assembly 34 to createan opening in which flexible display 32 folds. The amount of movement isgauged to adapt to the circumference defined by motion of hinge assembly34. That is, flexible display 32 is located on the inner circumferenceof the assembled information handling system 10 so that it moves inrelative terms outward towards the edge of housing portions 12 and 14when rotated from the closed to the flat position.

In the example embodiment, a spring 48 and rotating cam 50 cooperate toregulate movement of sliding portions 44 and 46 in response to rotationof the housing portions. During rotation to a closed position, extensionmember 40 engages sliding support 42 to press portions 44 and 46together, thereby loading spring 48 and rotating cam 50. Upon rotationfrom the closed to the flat position, cam 50 rotates to hold spring 48from pressing portions 44 and 46 apart until a predetermined amount ofrotation has occurred, such as past 90 degrees of rotation. As rotationcontinues of housing portions 12 and 14 to the flat position, cam 50releases spring 48 to press portions 44 and 46 apart from each other sothat inner planar portion 46 slides across the opening defined overhinge assembly 34. The rotational orientation at which spring 48releases is based upon the fold formed by flexible display 32 so thatlateral forces are not pressed against flexible display 32, which couldresult in physical damage.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an upper side perspective view depictsinformation handling system 10 in a closed position. Housing portions 12and 14 rotate about hinge assembly 34 so that flexible display 32 isprotected in an interior position. Hinge 36 has dual axles that maintaina spacing between housing portions 12 and 14 to provide room in whichflexible display 32 folds. Sliding support 42 disposed under flexibledisplay 32 slides to create room adjacent hinge assembly 34 for foldingof flexible display 32.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an upper side perspective view depictsinformation handling system 10 in a clamshell position. Housing portion14 has rotated approximately 90 degrees relative to housing portion 12about hinge assembly 34. In the example embodiment, hinge 36 is asynchronized hinge having an internal geared relationship thatsynchronizes rotation about each axle. Flexible display 32 has a raisedviewing portion disposed over housing portion 14 and a base portiondisposed over housing portion 12 that, for instance, can present avirtual keyboard for accepting typed inputs. As housing portions 12 and14 rotate towards the flat position, the relative length of flexibledisplay 32 increases so that extension of outer planar portion 44 ofsliding support 42 provides support under flexible display 32. Thecutaway expanded view of information handling system 10 depicts anexample embodiment in which outer planar portion 44 forms a lip aroundhousing portion 12 to extend outward in a seamless manner.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a side perspective view depicts informationhandling system 10 housing portions 12 and 14 rotated to a flatposition. Flexible display 32 extends across housing portions 12 and 14and over hinge assembly 34 as a contiguous tablet that accepts end usertouch inputs. Sliding support 42 slides under flexible display 32 andover hinge assembly 34 to provide support against end user and stylustouches.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a side perspective view depicts housingportions 12 and 14 with sliding support 42 extended to provide supportunder flexible display 32. With flexible display 32 removed, therelationship of planar portions 44 and 46 illustrates interlaced fingersseparated to provide dispersed support of flexible display 32 and allowsinner planar portion 46 to slide over the top of hinge assembly 34. Inthe example embodiment, outer planar portion 44 has 10 fingers 52 andinner planar portion 46 has 11 fingers 52 so that the spacing betweenfingers 52 is small enough to prevent excessive flexibility of theplastic substrate under flexible display 32. In the example embodiment,a sliding support 42 is placed over each housing portion 12 and 14,however, in an alternative embodiment, a sliding support may be used ononly one housing portion with flexible display 32 fixed in position overthe other housing portion.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a side perspective view depicts slidingsupports 42 retracted to illustrate an open space 58 defined over hingeassembly 34. Springs 48 bias inner portion 46 and outer portion 44 tomove in an alternating direction away from each other in the flatposition so that flexible display 32 has support underneath it. Ashousing portions 12 and 14 rotate towards the flat position, a turningof springs 48 as depicted by arrows 54 introduced by the cam allows thesliding motion apart as depicted by arrow 56 so that inner portion 46slides over the open space 58 defined over hinge assembly 34. Open space58 provides room for flexible display 32 to fold, thus adapting to thechange in relative length along the inner circumference of the rotatinghousing portions 12 and 14.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a side perspective view depicts one housingportion 12 and sliding support 42 with hinge assembly 34 in a closedposition. In the example embodiment, extension member 40 has overcomethe bias of spring 48 to press sliding support 42 and planar portions 44and 46 together so that fingers 52 engage in an interlockedrelationship. Movement of inner planar portion 46 away from hingeassembly 34 has defined an open space 58 that provides room for flexibledisplay 32 to fold without compressing or wrinkling.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a side cutaway view depicts informationhandling system 10 rotated to a closed position with space 58 defined tofold flexible display 32. In the closed position, inner planar portions46 of sliding support 42 slides away from hinge assembly 34 to leavespace 58 in which flexible display 32 has room to fold without pinchingor undue constraint. Outer planar portion 44 of sliding support 42slides inward towards hinge assembly 34 in the opposite direction ofinner planar portion 46 as the relative size of flexible display 32decreases along the inner circumference of housing portions 12 and 14.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a side cutaway view depicts informationhandling system 10 rotated to a flat position with flexible display 32supported by sliding support 42. Inner planar portions 46 of slidingsupport 42 has slid in response to the biasing force of spring 48towards and over top of hinge assembly 34. Outer planar portion 44 ofsliding support 42 has slid out past each of housing portions 12 and 14to support flexible display 32 across the length of the system. In thecentral region of information handling system 10 over hinge assembly 34,inner planar portion 46 of sliding support 42 provides support toflexible display 32 against end user touches.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it shouldbe understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can bemade hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for supporting a flexible display over ahinge, the method comprising: rotationally coupling first and secondhousing portions with the hinge to rotate between closed and flatpositions; disposing a flexible display over the first and secondhousing portions and the hinge; disposing a first sliding support overthe first housing portion and under the flexible display; disposing asecond sliding support over the second housing portion and under theflexible display; sliding an inner portion of each of the first andsecond sliding supports over the hinge when the first and second housingportions rotate to the flat position; and sliding the inner portion ofeach of the first and second sliding supports away from the hinge whenthe first and second housing portions rotate to the closed position, alocation over the hinge defining an opening in which the flexibledisplay folds.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: sliding anouter portion of each of the first and second sliding supports to extendpast the first and second housing portions when the first and secondhousing portions rotate to the flat position; and sliding the outerportion of each of the first and second sliding supports against thefirst and second housing portions when the first and second housingportions rotate to the closed position.
 3. The method of claim 2 whereineach sliding support inner and outer portion overlap with pluralinterlaced fingers that engage in the closed position and have a spacedrelationship in the open position.
 4. The method of claim 3 where eachsliding portion inner and outer portion has at least nine interlacedfingers.
 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising: biasing eachsliding support to the flat position with a spring; and overcoming thebiasing with rotation by the hinges to the closed position.
 6. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising: loading and rotating a spring ateach sliding support with rotation to the closed position; and delayingrelease of the spring load by the rotating so that the sliding supportslides to the flat position after a predetermined amount of rotation ofthe first and second housing portions.
 7. The method of claim 6 whereinthe flexible display comprises an organic light emitting diode display.